Make your Android device smarter, safer with this app

If you are concerned about personal data breaches being reported on the popular Android operating system worldwide and want your device to remain safe from malware, here's a new mobile security app that claims to fully protect your data and much more.IANS | November 30, 2016, 08:54 IST

NEW DELHI: If you are concerned about personal data breaches being reported on the popular Android operating system worldwide and want your device to remain safe from malware, here's a new mobile security app that claims to fully protect your data and much more.

Available on GooglePlay Store, "MiFon" protects your smartphone and the personal data stored in it.

"You can never put a price on your phone, data or family's protection. MiFon ensures you never have to. It's not only the most comprehensive mobile security suite but the only one that works even if the internet is breached," Abhijit Barua, founder architect of the app, told IANS.

In terms of data protection, the app is quite handy. Its "xFit" feature optimises the phone by deleting all junk and unused files. The "miVac" feature scans all apps and find viruses while the auto backup feature backs up contacts and media files.

According to Barua, most security-focused apps are advertisement sponsored or come from the Windows PC era and do more harm than good as they are resource inefficient or divulge private information to push pesky advertisements. In addition to risk of privacy, most of them have more useless features that are like placebos.

"Internet is optional for MiFon's critical security features to work and that makes real good sense for people in Asia and Africa where internet connectivity is not always good," Barua said.

What all can it do apart from providing security?

Consider you have misplaced your phone. Just send an SMS using MiFon's "smX" remote control feature from any other mobile and you will get a map showing where the device is.

"MiFon also helps you solve some common irritants like finding your phone if it is below your car seat or under a pile of clothes," Barua added.

"All you have to do is set off the siren that the app has from another phone that has MiFon or through an SMS or through the MiFon portal mifon.mobi," Barua, who has a rich experience in the telecom sector, explained, adding many of the app's over 10,000 users regularly use this feature.

MiFon users can smartly use the siren feature, to make the misplaced phone 'wail' at full volume, even if it was set in silent mode and it works even if either phones are not connected to the internet.

Another interesting feature is "Thiefie".

If your misplaced phone is with an unknown person and he or she tries to open it, the device will quietly take a picture of that person and send it to your email so that you can report this as evidence to police.

At a time when women's security is a paramount concern, the app can also help women in distress. You can press the SOS button on the app and the device will discreetly send a "distress message" to any of your trusted numbers.

Your phone will also take a photo of the person threatening you and send an email to the the other phone so that a friend or relative can come for rescue.

The app also helps keep track of your family members.

"MiFon configured on all phones in a family enables the full visibility of the whereabouts of each member for their safety. A mother can be comforted by knowing where her daughter has reached at 7 p.m. Even knowing the phone battery drained off at 6 p.m. can reduce worries," Barua said.

The app is available for free with Pro trial and subscriptions are available for Rs 999 per year and additional variants will come soon.

MiFon has also collaborated with domestic smartphone maker intex where the app will come bundled with selective devices.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) pulled up Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for warning subscribers of certain plans that their SIM cards would be deactivated if they do not recharge their pre-paid accounts though these subscribers had the minimum required balance.